Fairfax Media appoints Amanda Wilson as editor of The Sydney Morning Herald (Photo: Campaign Brief)

Fairfax Media has today announced the appointment of Amanda Wilson to the position of editor to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Wilson will be the publication's first female editor in its 180 year history.

"This is an important day for The Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media," said Greg Hywood, Fairfax Media's acting chief executive.

"She is to be warmly congratulated on her achievement. I know from experience Amanda will bring great strength and insight to the role. She has the flair and focus required to deliver The Sydney Morning Herald of the future."

"Amanda's promotion to editor is the obvious next step for her and for The Sydney Morning Herald. Her flair, awareness, and balance have been significant contributors to the successes of the newspaper in recent years," said Lloyd Whish-Wilson, the newspaper's publisher.

Wilson has held the position of acting editor since Peter Fray was appointed the newspaper's editor-in-chief in October 2010. And prior to this, she was deputy editor for two years.

"Amanda is a great journalist, editor and colleague. She has enormous energy, drive and vision and I am delighted by her appointment, on a personal and professional level. I am looking forward to continuing our close and productive working relationship," said Fray.

"This is a terrific moment in the life of the Herald, which celebrates its 180th anniversary in April this year."

Wilson has over thirty-years experience as a newspaper journalist, beginning her career as a cadet with News Limited. Before moving to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s, she worked as a reporter for The Sunday Telegraph and The Australian in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.

She then travelled to Beijing, Hong Kong, and later London, where she was made assistant editor of the Sunday Express, and chief sub-editor of The Sunday Times.

Wilson returned to Australia in 1994, joining The Sydney Morning Herald as foreign editor. Since then, she has served as deputy editor of sections and features, Saturday editor, Spectrum editor, features editor, and news editor.

"I’m very proud to be working with many of the most talented media professionals in this country," she said.

"The Herald has always stood for quality, independent journalism and I’m excited at being given this opportunity to uphold that tradition.

"I'm a firm believer in the cultural importance of newspapers, and am passionate about the role The Herald plays in delivering the best reporting, storytelling and analysis.

"The fact that we can now do this across a variety of platforms including print, online, tablet and mobile presents us with huge opportunities for the future."

Media Spy discussion: The Sydney Morning Herald